“Do you know why I’m so funny?” our young sailor once asked us. “Because I was born on April 1!”
And it’s wonderful that Ladunya is so funny. Her easy-going nature keeps her from sinking into gloom even over the saddest things. Such as having her birthday celebration cancelled, for example.
Three years ago, for once in our lives, our crew managed to celebrate our young sailor’s birthday with friends—our big Altai family, known for short as the “makhalya.” We flew in from Cuba, leaving Lady Mary in a marina for a month and a half. The party went something like this: what else would you expect from the likes of us? Lada’s friends—greetings to you in Siberia from us! Hooray!
For the next two years, the only company at our young sailor’s birthday celebrations was us, along with ice cream, a hike or a café—and it was wonderful, because we were on land, not out in the ocean.
Ladunya had been looking forward to this birthday for six months. She imagined finding friends in Australia and inviting them on a hike and a picnic. How they would all play together, and how many presents there would be :). She did find some lovely friends, and she invited them.
A Children’s Party in Isolation
But then this worldwide nightmare struck. Here in Western Australia, a little off on the edge of the world, it isn’t quite as nightmarish as it is in Europe and the States, of course. But from April 1, gatherings of more than two people are prohibited anywhere at all. You are only allowed to leave home for an essential reason—to buy food or medication—otherwise you face a fine. Today, people are still allowed to walk in parks, but they must keep four metres away from the next person, and no more than ten people may be there at once. An official quarantine has not yet been imposed, but it is only a matter of days.
In the morning, our young sailor shed a few tears, and we decided to go to the park with just the immediate family, combining the walk with her birthday celebration. And tomorrow, like many other birthday children in these extraordinary times, Ladunya will celebrate a virtual birthday with a real cake and guests on the internet.
“Mum, can I start receiving presents now?”
“Of course! You can always receive and give presents, whether it’s a special occasion or not.”
“But it’s already my special day, isn’t it?”
“You bet! We’re celebrating your birthday for two whole days :)).”
“Never mind, we’ll get through this,” she and I decided. “We’ll have a children’s party in isolation.” We came up with the idea of packing a festive picnic basket full of goodies and walking around the closed yacht club in our party clothes on the morning of her birthday ). And our happy young sailor scooted off down the pontoon to receive congratulations, followed by presents—if we can manage to buy them by tomorrow, of course :)).
Three sisters—from our first winter aboard the yacht .
A Party in Isolation (Take Two)
I propose doing exactly the same for my birthday, which falls on April 2. That day we will hold a live broadcast and, over the internet, with a cup of tea and a slice of cake, discuss the topic “How to Survive Within Four Walls” . We will announce the time and place separately on social media— Facebook , VK , Instagram .
While I was writing this, the captain informed me that apparently we are already accepting presents via Money.Yandex (Visa, MasterCard) 🙂
Many thanks to Alexander M. for contributing towards Nastya’s skipper’s qualification!
Our heartfelt thanks to Svetlana B., Vladimir Ye, Maxim F., Dmitry S. and Nikolai D. for already sending our young sailor a little present via https://www.paypal.me/TravelyFamily . Perhaps it was just a coincidence, of course, but it made us all very happy :). Thank you, our kindred souls!
Friends, let’s stick together. And may kindness, mutual support, strong immunity and a positive outlook triumph over this global catastrophe! Wishing you good health. May the measures adopted by countries prove as effective as possible.
Sunny greetings from our young sailor—the almost birthday girl. And from everyone involved in her birth and in giving her such an unusual destiny :).
Yours, from Western Australia.
Midshipman Nastya did not consent to us posting a similar photo of all four of us—so here we are, sitting as a threesome :))
In the Pinnacles Desert